After having watched the festivities leading up to the Gold Cup and Saucer throughout her childhood, 20-year-old Megan Poole is now a part of the show. She is helping promote the Island tradition and much more.
Writer Sarah Keaveny-Vos of CBC News recently caught up with Poole, who has hit the ground running in her role as a Gold Cup Ambassador for Old Home Week and this Saturday’s big race at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.
As Keaveny-Vos has pointed out, Poole, who is a second-year college student, is the first ‘little person’ to be a Gold Cup Ambassador – a role that she has slid into with style and grace.
"We don't all have to be the same size and shape and weight to do something,” Poole was quoted as saying. “You only have one life, so you might as well do what you want to do. Instead of holding off because you think you might not be able to do it."
Frankie Molyneaux is the co-ordinator for the Gold Cup Ambassadors, and she cannot say enough about what Poole brings to the table.
"She's so friendly, she's so easy to talk to. She lights up a room, she's just such a great person and I thought she was an inspiration for this whole industry," Molyneaux was quoted as saying.
"She wants to breaks barriers and that's exactly what she is doing … she's smashing them."
Keaveny-Vos’ piece explains that the Gold Cup Ambassadors do much more than merely tout the big race. They visit seniors that live in retirement and nursing homes, and bring their positivity and cheer to sick children that are in the hospital.
"That's fun and it's kind of the field I am going into (human services),” Poole was quoted as saying. “It's cool to go visit the kids that might not be able to go to parade day.
"For them to see us in our outfits and for the older people who don't get to go out, it just kind of brightens up their day a little bit."
(With files from CBC News)